Patient transfer device



Dec. 29, 1959 F. E. DAVIS PATIENT TRANSFER DEVICE Filed June 50, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

FE/V/MORE E. DA V/S HIS ATTORNEYS ited States Patent My invention relates to the handling of patients who are required to be moved, and more particularly to the transfer of patients from one surface of rest to another, as from a bed to a wheeled stretcher, or from a wheeled Stretcher to an operating table, etc.

Heretofore in transferring. a patient from a bed to a stretcher, and in other like situations, the patient would have to be. manually lifted and transferred, the number of persons required to accomplish this being determined largely by the Weight and condition of the patient.

Among the objects of the present invention are:

(1) To provide a novel and improved means for the handling of patients;

(2) To provide a novel and improved device for the transfer of a patient, as from a bed to a wheeled stretcher, and in like situations;

(3) To provide a novel and improved device which will enable the transfer of a patient, as from a bed to a wheeled stretcher, with a minimum of effort and a maximum of safety to the patient;

(4) To provide a novel and improved device which requires no more than two persons, and in many cases only one, in the transfer of a patient as from a bed to a wheeled stretcher;

(5 To provide a novel and improved patient transfer device of extremely simple construction;

(6) To provide a novel and improved patient transfer device which requires little in the way of care and maintenance, and which may be readily handled and stored.

Additional objects of my invention will be brought out in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the same, taken in conjuction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a three dimensional view, partly fragmentary, of a device embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in section through the device of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a plan view of the device of Figure l, partly in section;

Figure 4 constitutes a series of schematic views depicting the manner of use of the device of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings for details of my invention in its preferred form, the patient transfer device 1 depicted therein, comprises a frame including a pair of end bars 3, 5 which are connected in spaced relationship to each other by a plurality of tie rods 7 extending between and anchored to said end bars at points spaced from the ends thereof.

Extending between and journalled in the end bars are a plurality of rollers 9, with the first and last roller journalled at the ends of said bars. These rollers are practically all of like diameter which is slightly greater than the width of the end bars.

Encircling the frame and rollers, is a track 11 preferably in the form of an endless belt of heavy material such as canvas or rubberized fabric.

In employing the device for its intended purpose, as

ice

for the transfer of a patient 13 from a bed 15 to a wheeled stretcher 17, the wheeled stretcher is rolled to a position alongside the patients bed. One edge of the device is slipped beneath the patient and the bed sheet on which the patient may be lying, following which, the patient may then be pulled upon the device with the said of the bed sheet. This is readily accomplished because of the resultant movement of the track or belt, which also, simultaneously causes the device to travel in the direction of the pull. The pull on the bed sheet is continued until one side of the patient has been deposited onto the wheeled stretcher. The device may thereafter be pulled out from under the patient, and if the patient is in such a condition as not to be able to cooperate in this procedure, he may be tilted by lifting the opposite edge of the bedsheet upon which he lies.

It will be noted that the complete distance travelled by the patient is equal to the movement of the patient across the device ,plus the distance travelled by the device itself. By spacing the axes of the end rollers a distance of approximately .13 inches, it has been found that the device will satisfy the requirements for transferring a patient from bed to a wheeled stretcher and will function efficiently in other like situations.

During such transfer of the patient, it will be further noted that the device will span any open space between the bed and the stretcher which might exist under the circumstances, and thus be supported by both. With the weight of the patient carried thereon, the device thus serves to hold the bed and stretcher against separation, in effect, locking the two together, thus contributing to the safety of the patient in transferring him from the one to the other.

The length of the device is not critical, a length of five and a half feet being practical for all cases. While some patients may exceed this length, the device may still be utilized for its intended purpose, for no difficulty is experienced if the patients feet are permitted to extend beyond the end of the device.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of my invention in its preferred form, that the same is subject to alteration and modification without departing from the underlying principles involved.

The device, for example, may be employed in lieu of a conventional type stretcher, for use with ambulance patients, in which case handles will be provided at each end. When so employed, it will be apparent that a victim lying on a highway, for example, may more conveniently be hauled onto the stretcher than formerly, when the victim had to be lifted and placed thereon.

It is further contemplated that where a substantial difference in elevation exists between the two surfaces between which a patient is to be moved, a modification may be made in the device to permit of its employment under such adverse conditions. Thus for example, by forming each end bar of two sections which are hingedly secured to one another, the device may then be adjusted on the hinge axis whereby one side of the device may rest upon the bed for example, while the other side may be made to rest upon the other surface which may be at a substantially different elevation, and thereby enable its use in the transfer of a patient from such bed to such surface.

In view of the foregoing contemplated modifications and other possible alterations, I do not desire to be limited in my protection to the specific details illustrated and described in connection with my preferred embodiment, except as may be necessitated by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A patient transfer device comprising a pair of end bars; a plurality of roller means disposed between said end bars and rotatably mounted with respect thereto with their axes in substantially the median plane of said end bars, each of said roller means being of a diameter somewhat in excess of the width of said end bars whereby each of said roller means will extend both above and below said end bars, the distance between said end bars as determined by said roller means being sufiicient to adequately support a patient for sidewise movement while in a prone position with his feet adjacent one end bar and his head adjacent the other end bar; and a track encircling said roller means to bridge the spaces therebetween and provide a continuous supporting surface for such patient.

2. A patient transfer device comprising a plurality of parallel disposed roller means, means of less width than the diameter of each of said roller means connecting said roller means at their ends, the length of said roller means being sufiicient to adequately support a patient for sidewise movement while in a prone position with his feet adjacent one of said roller connecting means and his head adjacent the other of said roller connecting means; and a track encircling said roller means to bridge the spaces therebetween and provide a continuous supporting surface for such patient.

3. A patient transfer device comprising a pair of end bars of a length of the order of thirteen inches; a plurality of parallel disposed roller means between said end bars and rotatably mounted with respect thereto, each of said roller means being of a diameter slightly in excess of the width of said endbars whereby each of said roller means will extend both above and below said end bars, the length of said roller means between said end bars being of the order of five and a half feet to adequately support a patient for sidewise movement while in a prone position with his feet adjacent one of said end bars and his head adjacent the other of said end bars; and a track encircling said roller means to bridge the spaces therebetween and provide a continuous supporting surface for such patient.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 378,220 Staples Feb. 21, 1888 809,048 Furchtbar Jan. 3, 1906 845,966 Morris Mar. 5, 1907 849,449 Wright Apr. 9, 1907 1,068,345 Kemmler July'22, 1913 2,192,821 Torines Mar. 5, 1940 2,630,583 Gilleland Mar. 10, 1953 2,714,011 Albee July 26, 1955 2,735,727 Bonmartini Feb. 21, 1956 FOREIGN PATENTS 527,670 Great Britain Oct. 14, 1940 

